TV: Top Design

Bravo is quickly becoming creative-competition-reality-show central, with shows like "Project Runway" and "Top Chef" scoring big with audiences. Their latest concoction, "Top Design," is all about the harsh world of interior decorating - swatches, fabric samples, furniture, "distressed" pieces...yeah.

It's a pretty formulaic show that you sort of wish was boiled down into a half-hour - it's way more interesting just to explore the final rooms created than to watch how they are made. Most of the designers have a fairly serious disconnect with the average person's needs - yeah, that small art deco table might look good, but is it big enough to actually work on?

The most intersting contestant is Ryan (pictured with his crazy, Willy Wonka-esque room above), a sort of anti-designer who's actually an installation artist by trade. He's been clsoe to being eliminated for three consecutive weeks, but somehow someone always screws up each week worse than he does.